David Frost was a "TV personality," a show host of sorts, who decided to interview Richard Nixon (post-resignation) in hopes of lassoing incredible ratings and re-establishing himself in the American market. This interview project ends up sucking up all of his time, money and resources and puts him in the precarious position of either being destroyed or propelled. To avoid being destroyed, he must go head to head with an expert of debate and hardened question-dodger. Imagine a boxing match fought with words instead of fists.

I quite enjoyed this angle on the R. Nixon story; unfortunately, the film is rather a one-Tricky-Dick-pony. Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt are entertaining as Frost's research team, but their stories never quite pop. In fact, the emotional impact of the picture falls below expectations of a Ron Howard production.

I would like to have seen the "character interview" segments eliminated; these inserted segments give little while subtracting from the intensity of the whole. Instead, filmmakers should have concentrated on increasing the potency of existing tensions and character arcs. Alas, despite its flaws, I enjoyed the picture.

Ron Howard says, "What I hope the film does for viewers is... remind us that accountability matters. When the system allows our leaders to hide behind verbal gymnastics, or have their sins blithely rationalized because of the complexity of the office they hold, then it is up to the people to demand a reckoning."

Howard's goal is certainly noble; however, based on the film, I didn't get the feeling that Frost's ambitions reflect that nobility.

Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony